Auditor: Job Description, Salary, Duties & More (2024)

What’s it really like to be an Auditor?

So you want to know what a day in the life of an Auditor looks like?

Well, that depends on who you ask!

A contract auditor, an in-house auditor, an auditor on retainer, a government auditor, etc.

One great thing about this gig is if you get bored, you can definitely switch it up.

Auditor Job Information

Official Job Title	Auditor
Average Salary	$63,056
Stress Level	High
Work/ Life	Low
Job Satisfaction	Average
Career Advancement	High

Auditor Job Description

What Is An Auditor?

An auditor is an accounting professional who reviews business records for accuracy.

They spend days and days pouring over financial records to ensure every detail is correct.

If an auditor finds a discrepancy, it’s their duty to contest it!

Being an auditor isn’t necessarily all numbers – sometimes auditors review how a business operates (or its processes).

Auditors are also responsible for many internal and external communication about their day-to-day findings.

Auditors report their findings to senior management, talk with the CFO and other financial management staff regarding accounting practices, and interact with clients or other departments (depending on what type of auditor they are).

What Does An Auditor Do On A Daily Basis?

The daily life of an auditor depends on what type of auditor you ask and what type of company that auditor works for, but overall they seem to have a pretty regular schedule.

Most auditors start their day with project planning and organization.

They’ll have meetings or several phone calls to take.

In the time between, auditors spend their day peeling back their eyes to scan for errors and inconsistencies in essential company records.

Responsibilities, Duties & Roles Of An Auditor

An auditor can be expected to do the following:

Review and report on company financial records
Prepare all financial documents and statements
Attend meetings and collaborate with other departments, separate entities, or clients
Stay up to date on industry best practices
Work with financial staff to ensure the company is functioning at peak financial capability

Auditor Salary

Average Salary

On average, auditors make about $63,056 per year in salary.

You also should take into consideration that most companies offer bonuses and benefits!

Starting Salary

The entry-level salary of an auditor is $42,571.

Being an auditor is a great job right out of school or even part-time while getting a Master’s or studying for that CPA exam.

Senior Salary

Senior auditors make, on average, $93,801.

How To Become An Auditor

The Entry Level: Certification, Training & Degree

Most auditor jobs require candidates to have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Business (with Accounting being the preferred degree).

Other than that, it could be very helpful to be a licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant), which may boost your salary!

You could also shoot for attaining the following certifications:

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

To really go the next step with your career in Auditing (and to move up in the Accounting world), you should consider getting a Master’s degree in Accounting or Finance or an MBA in Finance and Accounting!

Other Skill Sets, Requirements & Qualifications

Besides a degree and some impressive certifications, there are no other technical requirements for auditors.

It is always helpful to have some job experience under your belt.

May we suggest doing some internships during your undergrad (maybe start as an assistant or a bookkeeper for an accounting firm in your college’s area).

Skills that would be helpful to kickstart your auditing career are understanding math and finance, objective thinking, fluency in spreadsheet programs, knowledge of business law, and off-the-charts communication.

How Long Does It Take To Become An Auditor?

This all depends on whether you combine your work experience and school time or separate them.

A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting takes 3-5 years on average.

Most auditor jobs require 1-3 years of relevant experience to be considered an eligible candidate.

If you also want to get your CPA and Master’s, that’s another 2-3 years.

You’re looking at 6-10 years from the time you start your undergrad studies.

If you can gain some experience during your school years by working part-time or interning, it could be less.

You can realistically land an entry-level auditor job (without a Master’s) in 4-5 years from starting undergrad if you work for 3 of your school years and obtain your CPA relatively quickly.

Is It Hard To Become An Auditor?

It’s pretty tough to become an auditor.

Accounting-related degrees are some of the more grueling education paths out there.

Not to mention that entry-level accounting jobs that you’d work while in school can have long, tedious hours, leaving you brain fried with lots of studying to do.

Once you get your Bachelor’s (and Master’s if you so choose), you’re strongly encouraged to go for your CPA.

However, less than half of the people who test for it pass.

It may be difficult to become an auditor, but the potential for growth in the accounting field is well worth it.

Auditor Career Paths

The Auditor Roadmap

The roadmap to becoming an auditor isn’t rocket science, but it’s not simple either.

First, you’ll need to get your Bachelor’s in Accounting (preferably), Finance, or Business.

Then, you’ll need to accrue 1-3 years of experience in the accounting field.

You’ll be doing yourself a favor and speeding up your journey to being an auditor if you land some relevant internships or even work part-time in entry-level accounting positions while in school.

After that, you’ll be a much stronger candidate for highly sought-after auditor jobs if you obtain your CPA and Master’s or MBA in Accounting/Finance.

Then, you can start applying to positions with confidence.

Projections For Growth In Auditor Jobs

The accounting industry is booming, to say the least.

Now more than ever, people are starting businesses.

And now more than ever, those businesses are growing!

The more companies that there are out there, the more auditors the world needs.

It’s safe to say there’s no shortage of auditor gigs out there.

As far as career growth?

You’re set as an auditor.

If you get your CPA and your Master’s degree or MBA, you can move up the ladder pretty quickly in the Accounting world.

You could be potentially sitting as CFO one day!

In Summary: Is Being an Auditor Good Career?

Overall, auditing is a good starter career.

With the salary capping out at under six figures in most cases, you’ll likely find yourself wanting more after a few years.

Lucky for you, that’s entirely possible with the degrees and certifications required to be an auditor!

You’ll definitely be able to move up, you’ll just have to choose where!

Working Conditions

Can An Auditor Work Remotely From Home?

Especially after 2020, many auditors (especially contract auditors) find themselves working remotely pretty often!

Considering 99% of the work auditors do is done on a computer and a phone, they really are mobile professionals.

Some internal auditors may be asked to stay in the office, depending on the company they work for.

Likely, all auditors will have to report to some number of in-person meetings each month.

How Many Hours Does An Auditor Work?

Work-life balance is where the career of an auditor starts to slump a little.

It’s not the worst out there, but these guys and gals work some tough hours.

On a normal week in the normal part of the year, auditors report working at least 45 hours a week on a regular basis.

Then, when tax season hits, they report an additional 11 to 15 hours per workweek of auditing work.

Those are long hours.

However, many companies offer overtime and bonuses during tax season.

Can An Auditor Work Part-Time?

There are definitely some part-time auditor jobs out there.

This is a great option for accounting professionals who need to dial back their careers but are in a position that won’t let them go part-time!

What Are The Average Vacation Days Of An Auditor?

Most auditors accrue the typical amount of leave time for the median employee, roughly 4 weeks a year (sick and annual time combined), plus holidays.

This will vary from company to company.

As a bonus, many auditors say their schedules are flexible.

They don’t feel bad when they have to step out for a doctor’s appointment, work from home for an afternoon, or take a day off without too much notice every now and then.

Alternative Careers & Similar Jobs to an Auditor

Auditor Resume Tips

Here are some tips to help tailor your resume to the best auditor positions out there:

Keep it to one page
List only relevant positions, education, and skills.
Don’t include that job you had waiting tables in high school.
Use as many hard skills as possible (measurable and teachable).
If you do list soft skills, work them into your descriptions.
Put your education, certifications, and other qualifying factors up top!
Be sure to really sell your skills and abilities.
This is the time to brag about yourself.

Auditor Interview Questions

Here are some common questions you may hear in an interview for an auditor position:

Q1: What do you think are the most important skills for an auditor to have?

Why it works: The hiring manager is trying to gauge how well you know your skills as they apply to the job.

Think about what strong suits you have that would make you a great auditor, and get ready to explain them – organization, critical thinking, deadline management, attention to detail, etc.

Q2: What makes the auditors so important to a company?

Why it works: The interviewer will be able to figure out if you know what an auditor does and why they do it!

Be sure to discuss the importance of a company’s financial soundness and how rewarding it is to be an auditor because they ensure the company is functioning properly, without error, and according to the law.

Q3: How will this job help you in your career?

Why it works: Everyone in the accounting world knows that being an auditor is an entry-level position.

The interviewer is trying to gauge your desire to climb the ladder.

Discuss that you know the position will grow you as a professional and teach you certain valuable skills, then go on to say that you are hoping to get your foot in the door at a very reputable company.

Jobs Related To Being An Auditor

Here are some jobs similar to being an auditor:

Budget Analyst
Bookkeeper
Financial Advisor
Accounts Payable Specialist
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Payroll Administrator
Assistant Controller
Financial Analyst
Accountant
Audit Supervisor

For HR Managers: Tips For Hiring An Auditor

Key Characteristics To Look For In An Auditor

If you’re an HR hiring manager looking for just the right fit for an auditor position, look for these traits.

Critical thinking
Communication
Not easily offended
Problem-solver
Curiosity
People-person
Organized

Minimum Level Of Education & Experience

Your candidates for the audit job should at least have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.

If any candidates are CPAs or have a Master’s in Accounting or a related field or both, they should take priority over other applicants.

The ideal candidate will also have 1 to 3 years of relevant work or intern experience in entry-level accounting positions.

Article Sources

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